Mumbai Houzz: A Cheerful Home for One
See how the duo at MuseLAB created the perfect nest fitted with smart storage for a single occupant
The owner of this home was well-acquainted with the work of Huzefa Rangwala and Jasem Pirani of MuseLAB and wanted the duo to create a vibrant and cheerful space for her. “Since this home is occupied by one person, we decided to create a space that would be open, fun and full of personal touches – she gave us a free hand in designing the home. The client is a keen shopper and wanted her home to have plenty of storage to keep all her belongings,” says Jasem Pirani of MuseLAB.
The home’s entrance is an impactful one, marked by a colourful partition on the left and old black-and-white family photographs on the right. The partition is a partly open and partly closed shelving unit, seen here in the foreground, with the front door behind it at right. Small curios dot little shelves.
“The layout of the house is such that as soon as you open the door, you have an abrupt view of the entire living space. For subtle privacy, we decided to create a shoe storage unit – it’s in walnut veneer, with the drawers in teak veneer, all coloured in PU coating, suspended with brass rods. Now as you enter, you have a clear view only of the dining area, which the client was okay with, since that is a less-frequented corner of the home,” says Pirani.
The curios are a mix of the client’s own collection and pieces sourced from city stores.
Curios: INV Home
Here’s how to create an entryway when there isn’t one
“The layout of the house is such that as soon as you open the door, you have an abrupt view of the entire living space. For subtle privacy, we decided to create a shoe storage unit – it’s in walnut veneer, with the drawers in teak veneer, all coloured in PU coating, suspended with brass rods. Now as you enter, you have a clear view only of the dining area, which the client was okay with, since that is a less-frequented corner of the home,” says Pirani.
The curios are a mix of the client’s own collection and pieces sourced from city stores.
Curios: INV Home
Here’s how to create an entryway when there isn’t one
The metallic bird knobs were specially sourced to add a dainty, whimsical touch to the unit.
Knobs: Tattva
Knobs: Tattva
For the single occupant, the living room doubles as a place to socialise, relax and read. All furniture in the house is custom made. “We wanted to add eye-catching details to the furniture. Take the coffee table, for instance. It has two similar legs and one leg with a twisted design. All fabrics were purchased from Dadar,” says Rangwala.
Rug: Man Made Rugs
Rug: Man Made Rugs
The large semi-open, semi-closed bookshelf provides ample storage but does not look bulky. It was made on site using different veneers such as oak, walnut and pine. “The wall behind the chaise is actually the client’s wardrobe, housing all her clothes and things. We wanted to mask the storage so we clad it in custom-designed, screen-printed tiles so it seems like a backdrop to the chaise,” Pirani says.
Tiles: One To One
Tiles: One To One
All storage units have unique knobs and handles. “We sourced the regular designs from the market and electroplated them with colour,” Rangwala says.
Take a look at these ingenious bookshelf designs
Take a look at these ingenious bookshelf designs
The dining area is tucked into a corner next to a large window. “We built a bench from end to end, and below it we used the space as a storage area for all the client’s extra crockery and china. We decided to paint all three chairs in different hues for a playful flair. The lights above the table were specially fabricated,” says Pirani.
“The dining table in peach wood was designed in a way that it had an outdoorsy, picnic feel to it, because we wanted to create a lighter mood here,” Rangwala says.
A sliding-door partition wall painted in matte PU separates the living room from the den. “The client didn’t need two bedrooms so we converted one of the rooms into a TV-room-cum-den. And we installed a sliding folding door that allows her to close the space and use it as a bedroom when guests are over. Otherwise it mostly stays open so it becomes an extension of the living space,” Pirani says.
All the doors have a portion painted in PU, which gives each an identity of its own.
All the doors have a portion painted in PU, which gives each an identity of its own.
The TV-room-cum-den is a snug space enhanced with visually-light storage and seaters. “The L- shaped sofa converts into a bed. Right across is a TV unit and a vertical storage made with veneers. The open shelves behind the sofa are a display unit for the client to keep her curios,” says Rangwala.
Cushions: Address Home
Cushions: Address Home
A soft palette keeps this bedroom looking light and airy. “We wanted to keep the decor simple and make the space feel larger so we used back-painted glass for the wardrobes. On one side of the bed we used a ladder as storage. And on the other side is a basket-like side table,” Pirani says.
Check out these fascinating bedside table set ups
Check out these fascinating bedside table set ups
Across from the bed is a dresser unit that holds the client’s shoes. “We didn’t want an entire unit to take over a wall, so we used a low storage piece. We designed it in a way that the bottom part looks like skirting; it has an animated quality to it,” says Rangwala.
The zig-zag cube shelves on the wall continue the colourful theme of the storage unit near the front door and are constructed in ply finished with veneer and coloured PU.
Read more:
This Instagrammer’s Delhi Home is a Treasure Trove of Memories
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
The zig-zag cube shelves on the wall continue the colourful theme of the storage unit near the front door and are constructed in ply finished with veneer and coloured PU.
Read more:
This Instagrammer’s Delhi Home is a Treasure Trove of Memories
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Who lives here: Single occupant
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Size: 58 square metres (620 square feet); 2 bedrooms; 2 bathrooms
Architectural and interior designers: Huzefa Rangwala and Jasem Pirani of MuseLAB
Photos by: Sameer Tawde